KENNET councillors have defended their decision to raise the level of their basic allowances by more than 50 per cent in the teeth of a storm of protest from local tax payers.

Some councillors were also taken aback by the Conservative proposal to raise the basic allowance from £2,625 to £4,000.

Liberal Democrat councillor for Roundway, Katherine Callow, had sent her apologies for the full council meeting on December 14.

She said: "When someone told me they had voted in this huge increase I thought they had made a mistake. It had been agreed at a previous meeting the increase should be 2.8 per cent in line with the recommendation of the independent remuneration panel.

"There was nothing in the agenda about any other increase, otherwise I would have made sure I was at the meeting."

The 50 per cent increase was moved by Tory group leader Coun Chris Humphries. He said they wanted to make it less a club for retired people and open it up for working people.

Former council leader, Jerry Willmott, said he objected to the way councillors had been portrayed as greedy when all they wanted was a realistic amount of remuneration for the work they put in. "The amount of money that councillors get in comparison to the amount of work they put in is derisory," he said.

Frank Marshall, the council's director of resources, said the council had hard decisions to make in the next few months in terms of cutting services, paring down budgets and losing staff. A sizeable rise in council tax precept is inevitable, but to avoid being capped Kennet will probably have to dig into its reserves to subsidise budgets.

Members split on whether to take rise

Geoff Brewer (Lib Dem, Roundway): He'd love to be in a position where he could refuse to take the increase, but needs an income.

Katherine Callow (Lib Dem, Roundway): She doesn't want to take the increase.

Thelma Carr (Con, Seend): As she voted for the increase, she will probably take the full amount. She said that the workload of councillors and officers has been greatly increased by the demands of the Government.

Nigel Carter (Devizes Guardians,

Devizes North): He will donate the

increase to the Wiltshire Heritage

Museum in Devizes which has had its grant cut by £5,000.

Tony Duck (Devizes Guardians,

Devizes East): He will donate the

increase to the Wiltshire Heritage

Museum.

Janet Giles (Con, Bromham and Rowde): Will be taking full increase. Feels they are underpaid compared to the amount of work they take on.

Lionel Grundy (Con, Cheverell): No comment.

Clyde Hoddinott (Ind, Potterne): Not happy about taking entire increase but will wait to see what the other opposition councillors are doing.

Tony Molland (Con, All Cannings): Sees no reason why he shouldn't accept full increase.

Peter Evans (Con, Devizes East): Voted for increase and will be taking it.

Jeff Ody (Devizes Guardians, Devizes South): He will be donating his increase to the Wiltshire Heritage Museum.

Ray Parsons (Con, Devizes South): Is likely to take full increase. Said the increased workload in licensing and planning imposed by the Government will mean that he will be working at least 26 hours a week on Kennet business.

Dr John Reid (Con, Lavingtons): Will be taking increase. He said it does not cover the amount of work he carries out . He said the employed find it difficult making ends meet.

Colin Stone (Con, Urchfont): Feels he should take full increase. He said the council's big mistake was not taking £5,000 recommended by independent panel two years ago.

Margaret Taylor (Lab, Devizes East): Is refusing to take any more than the 2.8 per cent increase recommended by the independent remuneration panel.

Jerry Willmott (Con, Lavingtons): Doesn't intend to take full amount but defends increase because councillors are not paid in proportion to the amount of work they take on.

Paula Winchcombe (Con, Devizes North): Will take full increase in light of the amount of work she has taken on as Kennet's health champion.

Jenny Combe (Con, Bishops Cannings): She will not be taking the full increase. She voted for it because she wants to encourage more young, working people to stand as councillors.

Philip Brown (Con, Bromham and Rowde): Will be taking full increase. As a self-employed person, he said he loses income by attending council meetings. Says he cannot understand why, if the independent panel recommended a figure of £5,000 two years ago, they didn't recommend it now.

Steve Miles (Con, Tidworth) is a trucker. He has either to lose a day's pay or take a day of his annual leave to attend council meetings. "I want to represent my community but why should my family be out of pocket ?"

Peter Richardson (Con, Ludgershall) said councillors deserved the increase and he would be keeping the money.

Jerry Kunkler (Ind, Pewsey): "It would be fairer if we were paid for each meeting we attend. I suggest all nine Independents give £500 a year to a charity."

Nick Fogg (Ind, Marlborough) said: "I have not made my mind up but I am thinking of a charitable donation."

Brian Ashley (Con, Pewsey Vale) said he believed councillors earned the extra money and should keep it, but he said the amount would be not much more than £2,000 after tax.

Rosemary Cummins (Ind, Great Bedwyn) said she did not join the district council for payment. "But I think I will accept it although I do not need it. It is an incentive for more young people to join the council."

Ken Beard (Con, Ludgershall) said: "I shall take it because I am a pensioner and anything extra I get is welcome. The councillors over the border in Hampshire get a lot more."

Bill Cavill (Lib Dem, Marlborough) said: "I was not at the meeting and I have not made up my mind what do."

Marian Hannaford (Con, Marlborough): voted for the increase but made no comment.

Tony Skittrall (Con, Marlborough): was unable to attend the meeting for health reasons but said: "I have been thinking what to do with it but I have not made my mind up."

Tony Still (Ind, Collingbournes and Everleigh) opposed the allowance

increase. "I am going to give it towards certain small activities in the Collingbournes and Everleigh. There is a need for small funds in the villages and I shall give it to that.

Alan Wood (UKIP, Netheravon): voted against the proposal. He said: "I will give my increase, after tax, to the parishes I represent)."

David Hunter (Con, Ogbournes): "I have not made my mind up yet what to do with the money."

Susan Findlay (Ind Ramsbury): "I am thinking what to do with it and probably the parish will benefit in some way."

Chairman Peter Veasey (Con, Shalbourne): formerly ran the village post office and said he was out of pocket for every meeting he attended. "The increase is well overdue."

Dominic Campbell (Con, Upavon): "I don't know yet what I will do with it."

Gretchen Rawlins (Con Avebury) was not at the meeting. She said: "I don't know what I will be doing yet."

Councillors not available for comment: Chris Humphries (Con, Aldbourne); John Booth (Con, Burbage); James Pearcy-Caldwell (Con, Milton Lilbourne); Anne Hayhoe (Ind, Pewsey); Andrew Connolly (Con, Tidworth); Peter Colling (Con, Tidworth).